Per genus et differentiam. A kind of definition. It consists of the genus (the kind or family) of thing to which the defined thing belongs, and the differentia (the distinguishing feature which marks it off from other members of the same family). Aristotle defined "man" as "a rational animal". Thus man belongs to the kinds of thing termed animals, but is distinguished from other animals by being rational.

"Certain rules have traditionally been given for this particular type of definition. (Copi, 1982, pp 165-169; Joyce, 1926).

A definition must set out the essential attributes of the thing defined.

Definitions should avoid circularity. To define a horse as 'a member of the species equus' would convey no information whatsoever. For this reason, Locke adds that a definition of a term must not consist of terms which are synonymous with it. This error is known as circulus in definiendo. Note, however, that it is acceptable to define two relative terms in respect of each other. Clearly, we cannot define 'antecedent' without using the term 'consequent', nor conversely.

The definition must not be too wide or too narrow. It must be applicable to everything to which the defined term applies (i.e. not miss anything out), and to no other objects (i.e. not include any things to which the defined term would not truly apply).

The definition must not be obscure. The purpose of a definition is to explain the meaning of a term which may be obscure or difficult, by the use of terms that are commonly understood and whose meaning is clear. The violation of this rule is known by the Latin term obscurum per obscurius. However, sometimes scientific and philosophical terms are difficult to define without obscurity. (See the definition of Free will in Wikipedia, for instance).

A definition should not be negative where it can be positive. We should not define 'wisdom' as the absence of folly, or a healthy thing as whatever is not sick. Sometimes this is unavoidable, however. We cannot define a point except as 'something with no parts', nor blindness except as 'the absence of sight in a creature that is normally sighted'. " (Wikipedia, 2007 )

Literature

Copi, Irving (1982). Introduction to Logic. New York: Macmillan

Joyce, George Hayward (1926). Principles of logic, 3d ed., new impression. London, New York: Longmans, Green and co

Wikipedia. The free encyclopedia. Definition. (Retrieved 2007-09-30). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definition

Entry Added: September 30, 2007
Last Update: April 29, 2010